Randy Kohrs - More About John Henry Lyrics
First of all, John Henry was a black man
He was born downWhere the sun don't ever shineHe was six feet tallDidn't know his own strengthBut he did not swing a hammerAll the time, course he didn'tJohn Henry had some women on his mindThere was a woman'Cross the street named poor SelmaWell, John Henry like a natural manJohn Henry quit poor SelmaJust like he was quittin' workHe loved that senorita Julie AnnShe was somethin' else you understandThere was a man named Stagger Lee in ArgentaA little man with a big forty fourYou know he shot his woman downAnd took a shot at poor SelmaBut ole Stagger won't be shooting anymoreHe had to quit itJohn Henry layed him dead on the floorJohn Henry through Stagger Lee in the riverThen he said I've got a say so to sayHe broke out in a song that was wrote by Blind LemonJulie Ann I'm singing my say, you know I love yaBut I do not like your low down waysWell, John Henry went to a conjurin' womanSaid this misery ain't no way to liveSomebody's back door creepin' on my pretty Julie AnnThe conjurin' woman had a say so to giveSaid John Henry, that's just the ways things isWell, John Henry well to a hell bustin' manSaid I'm tormented deep in my soulWell, that hell busted pray John Henry's sins went awayAnd they tell me how the thunder had rolled sweet JesusWhat a frightening sight to beholdFrom that day on John Henry was a changed manAll he did was just work all the timeWell, he worked till the muscles in his body gave outThen he kept right on a workin' in his mind, Lord don't do it'Cause a man ain't supposed to work all the timeJulie Ann said, "John Henry I Love You"Poor Selma said, "John Henry, you're My Man"Ruby said I'm gonna cook you upSome greens and some lean meatWith cornbread in a four foot pan with lots o' cracklingsBut John Henry was a different kind of manWell, they allow that hard work killed John HenryI'm gonna leave that allowing up to youWell, was he killed by hard workOr was he killed by bad women?Be sure it ain't a happenin' to youQuit workin' when your days work is throughFor a man ain't supposed to work all the timeAnd you know that's just the ways things is